Final: Chittenden County VT Education Analysis
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Final: Chittenden County VT Education Analysis On January 25, 2012 the Steering Committee accepted these Analysis Reports with the understanding that that as a part of the final ECOS product they remain open for amendment until the whole product is finalized. 1/25/2012 An ECOS Analysis Report This analysis, prepared by the Champlain Initiative, provides data and a description of education challenges relating to school readiness, K-12 success, higher education and adult learning, to help stakeholders understand and identify education needs in Chittenden County. It is important to note that this report is in DRAFT form, and not as refined as the other analysis reports. Final: Chittenden County VT Education Analysis TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 2. WHAT DO WE WANT? 3. HOW WILL WE RECOGNIZE IT? 4. WHAT MUST WE DO? (SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS) 5. HOW DO THINGS LOOK NOW? A. NEW ENGLAND COMMON ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NECAP) SCORES FOR VERMONT B. CHITTENDEN COUNTY K-12 PERFORMANCE C. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTS D. HIGHER EDUCATION E. ADULT LEARNING 6. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? THE CASE FOR ACTION A. SCHOOL READINESS B. EARLY GRADE READING PROFICIENCY C. MIDDLE GRADE SUCCESS 7. CHALLENGES A. DATA COLLECTION AND USE B. GEOGRAPHY C. COMMUNITY SUPPORTS D. THE CONNECTION BETWEEN EDUCATION AND HEALTH 8. RECOMMENDATIONS 9. PROMISING INITIATIVES 10. APPENDIX A – COMMUNITY SUPPORTS Page 1 Final: Chittenden County VT Education Analysis INTRODUCTION The ECOS Project Steering Committee is a broadly-based 60+ member partnership committed to implementing strategies to improve Chittenden County’s long-term sustainability: economically, environmentally and socially. The Steering Committee has committed to a five- phase project: 1. Adopt common goal statements 2. Analyze reports regarding economic development, housing, energy, land use and transportation, natural resources and health/human services/education 3. Develop indicators tied to the goal statements 4. Prioritize implementation actions for the next five, ten and twenty years 5. Invest in high priority implementation actions. The results will inform regional, municipal and other plans as they are updated. This analysis, aggregated from a variety of existing sources, is part of ECOS Phase Two. WHAT DO WE WANT? Education is the cornerstone of individual and community success. But with more than 1.2 million children dropping out each year, America faces an education crisis. The cost? More than $312 billion in lost wages, taxes and productivity over their lifetimesi. These trends are reversible, but only when communities and public, private and nonprofit sectors work together. GOAL: Each student graduates from high school and/or college with the confidence, enthusiasm, skills and knowledge they need to build a satisfying and sustainable future for themselves, their community and their world. GOAL: Each adult has the essential skills education to further their educational, employment and personal goals in order to expand their options and capabilities in the family, community and workplace. GOAL: Each person has the social community supports they need to achieve academic success. Page 2 Final: Chittenden County VT Education Analysis To achieve academic success, or proficiency, people must be: Able to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information; Able to effectively communicate with others; Proficient in science, mathematics, computer/technical skills, foreign languages, as well as history, geography, and global awareness; Capable of collaboratively working in culturally diverse settings; Leaders who see projects through to completion; Responsible decision makers who are self-motivated and active political participants; and; Ethical individuals who are committed to their families, communities, and colleagues. (Source: Building Partnerships for Youth, (http://cals- cf.calsnet.arizona.edu/fcs/bpy/content.cfm?content=academic_success) The following ECOS Project goals statements relating to education are included in the areas of Economic Development and Social Community: Improve education, workforce education, and training. Provide youth with high-quality education and social supports. Provide lifelong learning opportunities for all. Like many communities around the country, Chittenden County schools have an “achievement gap” - a disparity in academic performance between groups of students. The achievement gap shows up in grades, standardized-test scores, course selection, dropout rates, and college- completion rates, among other success measures. This analysis aggregates current data that explores troubling performance gaps between African American students, those with limited English-language proficiency and white peers - and the similar academic disparity between students from low-income families and those who are better off. HOW WILL WE RECOGNIZE IT? The purposes of this analysis are to: Identify existing data that illustrate who is, and who is not, achieving their full potential in the K-16 education system; Page 3 Final: Chittenden County VT Education Analysis Identify factors that contribute to an achievement gap; Inform the development of indicators that measure progress in closing this gap. WHAT MUST WE DO? Engage students in learning while in school; Support families to improve academic achievement; Connect students with the resources they need outside of school; Build stronger systems to support children and youth; and Create a robust information system. (See Recommendations, P. 42) HOW DO THINGS LOOK NOW? In Chittenden County there are 6 school districts and three supervisory unions, with a total of 22,313 students enrolledii.: Burlington (3,917) Colchester (2,183) Essex Town (1,239) Milton (1,757) South Burlington (2,582) Winooski (850) and three supervisory unions, each of which includes a number of school districts: Chittenden East (2,847 - includes Huntington, Bolton, Jericho, Richmond, Underhill) Chittenden Central (2,599 - includes Essex Jct. and Westford) Chittenden South (4,347 - includes Williston, Shelburne, Charlotte, St. George and Hinesburg). Page 4 Final: Chittenden County VT Education Analysis Chittenden County is home to five institutions of higher education: University of Vermont Champlain College Community College of Vermont St. Michael’s College Burlington College Demographics [EXCERPTS FROM ECOS PROJECT, ECONOMIC BASE ANALYSIS AND CHITTENDEN COUNTY, VT COMPETITIVE ASSESSMENT] Population growth in Chittenden County has outpaced the state for the past 80 years. During this period the County’s population has nearly tripled while the balance of the State has grown by about 50 percent. The gap between the two continues to widen steadily. Currently one of every four Vermont citizens lives in Chittenden County. Chittenden County had a 2010 population of 156,545 residents, one quarter of the state’s total. During the past decade the population grew significantly more than the state average (6.8% versus 2.8%), but trailed the national average (9.7%). The population is relatively young, with a median age of 36.2 years, according to the 2010 census, versus a state median of 41.2 years. Available forecasts show the County’s median age will rise faster than the national average between 2010 and 2015, due to an anticipated decline in the number of residents under 54 years and growth in the number of residents over the age of 55. The County’s median household income is high at $61,363, compared to state and national medians of $52,289 and $52,795 respectively. Educational levels among residents 25 years old and older exceed state and national norms. Chittenden County is the state’s most diverse region. Since 1989, total 5,967 refugees have been resettled in Vermont, primarily in Chittenden County. In 2011, 417 refugees were resettled in Vermont. Chittenden County’s K-12 student population is the most ethnically diverse in the state. Two school districts, Burlington and Winooski, have the highest percentages of non-white students. In the 2009-2010 school year, the Burlington School District served 613 English Language iii Learner (ELL) students, while the Winooski School District served about 235 ELL students. Page 5 Final: Chittenden County VT Education Analysis In the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, approximately 30% of Burlington and Winooski respondents self-identified as a racial minority.iv Chittenden County K-12 schools also have a significant number of students from low- income families. The percent of students eligible to receive Free/Reduced Price School Meals has increased from 2004 to 2010v. In 2010: Burlington (46%) Chittenden Central/Essex (20%) Chittenden East (17%) Chittenden South (12%) Colchester (22%) Milton (26%) South Burlington (18%) Winooski (63%) Page 6 Final: Chittenden County VT Education Analysis New England Common Assessment Program Scores for Vermont EXCERPTED FROM: “BRIDGING THE GAP: PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS FOR ALL VERMONT STUDENTS, PUBLISHED BY VOICES FOR VERMONT’S CHILDREN” http://www.voicesforvtkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/bridgingGAP_2c1.pdf The Vermont Department of Education administers the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) annually during the first three weeks of October. The NECAP assesses skills in reading, math, writing, and science. Tests administered in grades 3 through 8 and 11 evaluate students’ reading and mathematics proficiency, with additional writing and science assessments being conducted in grades 4, 5, 8, and 11. NECAP results reflect the knowledge Page 7 Final: